Life is a near-death experience.
George CarlinRead
Isn’t making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously criticizes the ineffective segregation of harmful activities.
George Carlin's quote cleverly uses humor to illustrate the absurdity of trying to create a space for smoking in a restaurant, much like creating a designated area for urination in a swimming pool. Both examples highlight the futility of attempting to separate detrimental behaviors from environments where they are inherently disruptive or harmful.
Themes
SmokingHumorAbsurdityCritiqueRestaurant
In practice
Example use cases
In a comedy show about social norms, one might use this quote to highlight absurd regulations.
More from George Carlin
All quotes →Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: “We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car."
George CarlinRead
If you've got a cat and a leg, you've got a happy cat. If you've got a cat and two legs, you've got a party.
George CarlinRead
This is a lttle prayer dedicated to the separation of church and state. I guess if they are going to force those kids to pray in schools they might as well have a nice prayer like this: Our Father who art in heaven, and to the republic for which it stands, thy kingdom come, one nation indivisible as in heaven, give us this day as we forgive those who so proudly we hail. Crown thy good into temptation but deliver us from the twilight's last gleaming. Amen and Awomen.
George CarlinRead
Some people try to get out of jury duty by lying. You don't have to lie. Tell the judge the truth. Tell him you'd make a terrific juror because you can spot guilty people.
George CarlinRead
Intelligence tests are biased toward the literate.
George CarlinRead
Similar quotes
I was the only kid who anybody I knew has ever seen actually walk into a lamppost with his eyes wide open. Everybody assumed that there must be something going on inside, because there sure as hell wasn't anything going on the outside!
Douglas AdamsRead
If something about the human body disgusts you, the fault lies with the manufacturer.
Lenny BruceRead
Percy wouldn't notice a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing one of Dobby's hats.
J. K. RowlingRead
Anyone who thinks impressions of old movie actors is funny absolutely cannot be trusted. I think it's like a law of nature.
Stephen KingRead
On vacations: We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings.
Erma BombeckRead
There's something very authentic about humor, when you think about it. Anybody can pretend to be serious. But you can't pretend to be funny.
Billy CollinsRead